Bad Attitude–Twice!
Opening Prayer
God of Mercy, help me to extend mercy even as I have received it.
Read Luke 9:51-56
[51] As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. [52] And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; [53] but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. [54] When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” [55] But Jesus turned and rebuked them. [56] Then he and his disciples went to another village. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What were the disciples missing about Jesus’ message?Jesus is now clearly on his way to Jerusalem (51)–to conflict, controversy and the cross. The disciples still had not learned the lesson about ambition and party spirit. Jews and Samaritans didn’t get along, and suspicion was always present in their relations. Ever since the exile of the northern kingdom some centuries earlier and the resultant mix-up of culture and ethnicity, Jews had thought ill of Samaritans. Their failure of hospitality (53) provoked an inevitable response from the disciples (54). The disciples may even have had theological motives in their outburst against the Samaritans. After all, the coming of the Lord would also bring judgment; a failure to respond to his coming, especially by “impure” people like the Samaritans, might seem like an expected outcome. Perhaps the disciples were also a bit heady over their own role in all of this (52). Jesus turns and rebukes them. They were missing his message.
Apply
In what areas do you relate to the attitude of the disciples? Talk to Jesus about this.
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